Gear of the Year and Top Picks from Outside Magazine, Backpacker Magazine

Well, the annual Outside Magazine Gear of the Year Awards issue is out- 2006 Gear of the Year this time, and so is the BackPacker Magazine 2007 Gear Guide. They manage to cover more than 1,000 products in at least a dozen categories. Here, I'll just mention 10 of the best ones, which you can also find in our Adventure 16 online store.

Backpacker Magazine "Best Low-Cut for Backpacking": The Vasque Kota (women's men's) - Multisport shoe meets day hiker! This versatile shoe’s sturdy platform combines with Vasque’s Keystone Control System for excellent stability; ample cushion and a flexible, tapered toe provide smooth, speedy toe-off. Click on your gender above to see a 3D view

One of Outside Magazine's GPS's of the year: Garmin Rino 530 GPS Two Way Radio

Another Outside Magazine GPS of the year: Garmin GPSMap 60CSx

The 1st place Outside Magazine Headlamp: Constant brightness, ultralight and waterproof: Princeton Tec Quad Headlamp

The 2nd place Outside Magazine Headlamp: Petzl Tikka Xp Led Headlamp

BackPacker Magazine editors' special mention for most stable backpack: Mountain Hardwear Maestro Internal Frame Backpack

BackPacker Magazine editors' top pick in March 2007!: Gregory Electra Women's Internal Frame Back Pack

BackPacker Magazine editors' top pick in March 2007!: The North Face Cats Meow Delta (Women's)

A Look Back at the Top 2006 Outdoor Gear & Clothing Trends

Taking a brief look back at some of the top products and categories from 2006...

1. Women's clothing was more popular than men's clothing
2. Busy people love to take one day "done in a day" trips- check out daypacks and hydration packs
3. People love their fleece, especially from The North Face
4. Messenger bags really took off last year
5. MSR rocked the three-season tent world with their popular and award winning Mutha Hubba.

Grassroots Outdoor Alliance (GOA, formerly ROI Retailers of the Outdoor Industry)

Formerly the Retailers of the Outdoor Industry (ROI), the Grassroots Outdoor Alliance (GOA) is a group of 32 outdoor retailers like Adventure 16, Massey's, Rock Creek Outfitters, and Summit Hut.

The GOA's purpose is to promote the unique experience of shopping in an independent, locally-owned outdoor store, the heritage of outdoor specialty, and the importance of experiencing the
outdoors to Americans... and of course, business practices that positively impact local communities and the environment.

Sierra Egg Scramble

A wonderful start to a great day of backpacking or camping. This recipe is especially nice because you can either use fresh ingredients on a short trip or freeze dried/powdered ingredients on longer trips. Who doesn't enjoy a hearty egg breakfast?

6 oz. Powdered Eggs or 3 Fresh Eggs
Grated Cheese
Onion Chopped
Garlic Chopped
(Other vegetables can be added at your preference)
Cooking Oil
Salt & Pepper to taste

At Camp:
-Add liquid to powdered eggs according to directions or lightly beat fresh eggs
-Add vegetables to preheated and oiled skillet, cook until slightly soft
-Add eggs, stirring until eggs reach desired consistency
-Top with grated cheese

Serves 4

Recipe courtesy of Kurt Wedberg--Owner, Sierra Mountaineering International http://www.sierramountaineering.com/

Camp Pan Pizza

This is a fun recipe for kids and adults alike. Especially great for larger groups with possible picky eaters. Each person can bring their own ingredients to top their pizza or choose to mix and match with others on the trip.

3 oz Pre-made Sauce
1 Pre-made Pizza Crust
Grated Cheese
Chopped Vegetable Toppings (Onions, Garlic, Bell Peppers, Artichoke Hearts or your favorites)
Sliced Pepperoni
Cooking Oil

At Home:
-Package pre-made sauce into small resealable bag, or small Nalgene bottle
-Grate Cheese (Mozzarella can be used for shorter trips where the weather will be on the cooler side. Otherwise, a hard cheese makes a great option, i.e. cheddar)
-Pre-cut vegetables and other toppings and place into small resealable bag
-Package cooking oil with main supply
-Package all ingredients in large gallon size resealble bag

At Camp:
-Heat Outback oven with oil in the pan
-Pour sauce on Crust
-Add toppings except cheese
-Add cheese last
-Cook in pan with Outback Oven for 6-8 Minutes or until cheese is melted and crust in golden brown.

Serves 1

Recipe courtesy of Kurt Wedberg--Owner, Sierra Mountaineering International http://www.sierramountaineering.com/

Tasty on the Trail Thai Dinner

This tasty Thai dish is great for a quick weekend backpacking trip. It is so nice to get into camp and have a meal that tastes like it came from your favorite Thai restaurant. The fresh ingredients are a nice surprise from your typical freeze dried veggies. (Freeze dried ingredients can be used in place of fresh on longer backpacking trips.)

1 Carrot Chopped
1 Zucchini Chopped
1 Bell Pepper (any color) chopped
8 oz. Cooked Chicken (Canned or packaged works well)
1 oz. Peanut Oil
1 Can Coconut Milk
2 Bags "Boil in Bag" Rice
2 oz. Peanut Sauce
Salt and Pepper to taste

At Home:
-Cut vegetables into bite size pieces. They will travel better and cook faster if they are all uniform in size.
-Package pre-cut vegetables into smaller resealable bag.
-Package oil with main supply.
-Put Peanut Sauce in small Nalgene bottle.
-Package all ingredients and pre-cut vegetables into larger gallon size bag.

In Camp:
-If using dehydrated ingredients, re-hydrate.
-Sauté vegetables and chicken in peanut oil over medium heat until soft.
-Add coconut milk and heat
-Stir in Peanut Sauce
-Prepare Rice
-Pour Sauté over Rice and serve

Serves 4

Recipe courtesy of Kurt Wedberg--Owner, Sierra Mountaineering International, http://www.sierramountaineering.com/

Big City Mountaineers: Take inner-city youth backpacking and change a life

Big City Mountaineers Needs Volunteer Mentors to take inner-city youth backpacking and change a life

Non-profit Big City Mountaineers is now taking applications for its famous program that, in the words of the group's mission statement: “… provides urban teenage youth in need of positive adult mentoring with challenging and safe wilderness experiences led by qualified adult volunteer guides.”

Wildlife sound clips: free ringtone downloads of endangered species

"The non-profit Center for Biological Diversity offers you free ringtones of rare and endangered animals, a collection of high-quality, authentic sounds of some of the world’s most threatened birds, owls, frogs, toads and marine mammals. Download their haunting hoots, sensational songs and crazy croaks to your cell phone, for free."

Ice Climbing with Ben, Christo, Dan, Trevor...

Ben from buying and Christo our San Diego store manager recently went ice climbing with some other A16'ers like Dan, Daniel and Trevor (and others I don't know!).
Here are some photos of their trip:


Trevor and Jack from our Tarzana store,
Ben, Christo, Daniel, and Dan




Christo happier than others about staying warm. Is he wearing better gear? Maybe a better baselayer or technical jacket?





You end up with a lot of shots like this in
climbing unless you have someone at the top!


I'm pretty sure he's not doing what you think
he's doing. He's just being at peace with the quiet field and cold lake.


This move works in both in ice climbing and
directing planes on the tarmac.

Earning Eagle Scout

"Being in the Scouts means different things to different members. It might be the Pinewood Derby for some, while others enjoy the camping and backpacking." Read more...

If you didn't know, the scouts was a big part of Adventure 16's early beginnings!

Scenic Kentucky Hiking Trail

"One of Kentucky's top hiking and backpacking byways, the North/South Trail, skewers the full length of the Land Between the Lakes national recreation area.

"The LBL is a relatively slim peninsula between huge Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley, capped on the north by a lakes-linking canal near Grand Rivers. The federal area is 170,000 uninhabited acres of hardwood-bristling ridges and hollows as it stretches south, across the Tennessee line to an area boundary near Dover, Tenn.

Read more here...
and more about Kentucky's North South Trail at trails.com

Video: Hiking Boot Basics Demo

Video from the Olympian of a salesperson explaining some of the basic things to consider when buying a pair of hiking boots.

Hotel Made of Ice

Suitable only for a man who needs a fortress of solitude, or people so rich they're bored?

ICEHOTEL Deluxe Suite in the village Jukkasjärvi, 200 kilometres north of the Arctic Circle in Sweden

This is something extra in terms of decoration and service. For that very special occasion, or just because You are worth it! Unique rooms decorated with ice art and sculptures. The door can be locked.

You sleep in a thermal sleeping bag on a special bed of snow and ice, on reindeer skins. You are awakened in the morning with a cup of hot lingonberry juice at Your bedside.

Private transfer, drink tickets, the book "Ice Age", breakfast buffet, morning sauna and towels included.

New A16 Customer Talks About Store Experience

We recently received this email testimonial. I added some links for your convenience, removed personal info for their privacy and bleeped out one bad word, but other than that, it's exactly as the customer wrote it.

> > Date: Mon, 8 Jan 2007 08:25:49 -0800 (PST)
> > From: William K <>
> > Subject: You Were NOT Kidding!!
> > To: Rhonda H <>

Hey, I stopped by A16 yesterday to check the place out. It took me a little while to get the attention of the sales people, but once I did, the guy did a complete fit for boots. It was amazing...the whole time he was telling me things to remember (i.e. wool/synthetic socks rather than cotton, how to tie, etc.). They actually had a pair of Lowas on sale for $100, so not only did I get good service, I got boots for much cheaper than REI and they had all the sizes because they didn't sell out during Christmas.

I also went over to the sleeping bag area and they have a down 20 degree Marmot bag on sale that was in my price range...I'm all set now. Now in the coming months, I can just pick up little things here and there to fill out my gear. I will definitely go to A16 before trying REI.

Thanks for recommending the place to me!! One of the cool things is that I could tell the guy I didn't know anything about anything and he wouldn't treat me like a dumb***. He just kept feeding me with information. I have passed A16 a bazillion times, but probably would not have stopped there. I told Dave and I think he is going to stop there this week for boots.

Talk to you soon,
Billy

Note: Find your nearest Southern California A16 store here.

Funny Travel Books

Occasionally in putting products online, we find some strange product pictures and descriptions. Here are a few we found in the Lonely Planet travel guide books.

Here we have on the cover of an Ireland Travel Guide the most symbolic picture we could find of Ireland... not rolling green hills, but... beer. A friend of a friend says that the Irish actually drink American imported beer, cold. Hmmm.

Next up we have a great book about visiting the Philippines, but what's up with the guy on the cover? Is he laughing or in pain? Is he stuck in that net? Is it a fishing net, and if so, why is it all over those jungle-type plants? Evidently, everyone in the Philippines is really happy.










Finally, most of the description of the book about speaking French is entertaining, but especially learning how to say basic phrases like "yes", "no", and of course, "I'm from New Zealand" and "The Eiffel tower doesn't look straight." Those are the first phrases I was planning to look up.

Wow! Rainier Flood

Did you know about the huge flood Mount Rainier had in November 2006? Here are some pics:

See a lot more photos of the Rainier flood here.

Note about Videos

The videos on this blog use YouTube.com as the host. So if you're behind a corporate firewall that blocks out sites like that, you'll have to view us from home later on!

Ben's Super Goggles

Ben showing off his new ski/snow goggles. What brand are those? And they go really well with the bicycle helmet, dude!

Baja, Our Mascot

If we have a mascot at A16, she's it. This is Baja the dog, who also stars on the San Diego store locations page. Her official title is Canine Relations, and her job description is just to be cute and make people happy. She continues to receive positive reviews.

New Marmot Pampero Back Pack

There's a new Marmot daypack coming out- that's the buzz- it's called the Pampero, and like Pampers , it keeps you dry- your back, not... you know (I doubt they thought of that when they named it)

Like the little Osprey I bought a few months ago, it has a cool design for the part of the pack that hits your back- now no more sweaty back because the pack is off your back and there's mesh between you and it to allow air to flow through.

I can't find the Pampero Daypack anywhere but here- I guess Adventure 16 is ahead of the field right now with Marmot gear. It's not even on the Marmot site yet!